LE3 .A278 2019

2019

Robbins, Anna

Acadia University

Master of Arts

Masters

Theology

Acadia Divinity College

This thesis examines the demonology of C.S. Lewis as presented in his fiction (The Ransom Trilogy, The Screwtape Letters and The Great Divorce) and non-fiction (The Problem of Pain, Mere Christianity, Miracles, and Preface to Paradise Lost) and explores the relevance of demons in Lewis’s theology. The contention being that Lewis’s demonology is so deeply integrated into the rest of his theology that if profoundly informs his eschatological view of the state unredeemed humanity. This state being the destruction of the imago dei in humanity and its replacement with the imago satanae, being the full realization of the perdition of the soul. In order to provide this analysis Lewis is first placed in his personal, historical and theological context. His view on supernaturalism is established including his use of the concept of the unheimlich as his angelology is examined which indicates the profound fall the Demonic has experienced in its rebellion from God. Then an examination of Lewis’s demonology is considered including Lewis’s presentation of spiritual warfare and the Demonic agenda of total demonization towards humanity. This brings us to consider the response of God regarding the existence of the Demonic, namely the Incarnation and the future destiny of humanity in God’s economy (theosis). Lewis’s demonology is then considered in comparison to four of the leading theologians of the twentieth century regarding spiritual warfare (Powlison, Boyd, Wagner and Wink). Recommendations for further study are offered based on this research and it isasserted that Lewis’s demonology is one of the more robust and well-integrated of all the twentieth century theologians considered with an innovative presentation of eschatological humanity.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:3225